The National tribune., 1887-07-14

Fish Commission. letter 60 Prof. Baird tells
the following thrilling story: THE steamer
Venus is small vessel of about II tons. owned
and commanded by Franklin d. LangsfOrd. OF
lanesville. Mass. with crew Of three men,
engaged IN the general fisheries of the coast OF
Massachusetts,. On Monday morning. Aug. 9.
Capt Langsford sailed from home In pursuit Of
swurdhsh. About IL a. m. when eight miles
northeast from Halihut Point in Ipswich Bay,
q fish was seen. The Captain, with one man,
taking dory, gave chase, and soon harpooned
the hsh, throwing over a buoy with a line at
tached 10 the harpoon. after which the fish was
left and they returned 10 the vessel Tor dinner.
About an hour later the Captain with one mau,
again took his dory and went ogs to secure the
hsh. Picking up the buoy, CSSt. Langsiord
took hold OF the line, pulling his boat toward
the sw0rdish, which was quite large aud not
badly wounded. The line was taut As the boat
slowly neared the FISH. which the Captain in-
tended 20 lance and thus kill IL. When near
the fish, but too far away 10 reach IL with the
lance, it quickly turned aud rushed at and
under the boat, thrustng its sword up through
the bottom OG the boat % inches. As the fish
turned aud rushed toward the boat the line
WAS suddenly Stacked. causing the Captain to
iall over on his hack; and while he was IN the
act of rising the sword came piercing through
the boat aud into has body. At this time an
other swOrdhsh was in sight near by, and the
Captain, excited aud anxious TO secure both.
raised himself up not knowing that he was
wounded. Seeing the sword. no seized it, eK-
claiming, We've got him. anyway! lie lay
in the bottom Of the dory, holding fast 20 the
sword, until his vessel came alongside, while
the fish, being under the boat, could not be
reached. Soon the Captain said. think l am
hurt, aud quite badly. when the vessel ar
rived he went on board took few steps aud
iell, never rising again. The boat aud fish
were SION husted on board when the sword
was chopped Off TO free the boat and the fish
was KILLED on the deck of the vessel. The fish
weighed Pas pounds after its head and tail were
cut of aud the viscera removed; when alive IL
weighed something over 300 pounds. Capt
lHngsford survived the injury about three
DAYS, dying on Thursday. Aug. -, Of peritoni-
Us" The sword has been deposited in the
United States National Museum.
VETERANS IN THE CITY.
Corpl Comrade Euos A. Axtell. Co. ID. i4th
Brooklyn, Kansas City. Mo. Comrade ANtell
is Commander Of James A. Shields Post, OF
Kansas City. and has resided in that city since
shortly after the close Of the WAT lie came
on 10 Gettysburg 10 attend the meeting there.
SOLDIERS LONELY GRAVE.
Comrade Charles B. Saver. of Lincoln Post.
No 3, Department of the Potomac while
passing through the woods near old Fort Ma
han, about two miles from this city. found a
lonely grave, with tombstone stating that the
occupant Of the grave was Jacob L. Carr of Co.
j, S9th Pa, native of New Jersey. Comrsde
Sayer has reported the matter TO Department
Commander j. b. Burke with view 10 having
the remains removed 10 the National Cemetery
IT Arlington. The grave is near Scaggss
Meeting-HOuse. and not Gar from Benning's
Station, on the BatimOre& Potomac Railroad.